Lightning Bug

Local Name

Kunang Kunang

Scientific Name

Abscondita chinensis

Family

Lampyridae

Fireflies are soft-bodied beetles belonging to the family Lampyridae, famous for their ability to produce bioluminescent light from their lower abdomen. This chemical light is primarily used to attract mates and communicate with other individuals. Thriving in warm, humid tropical environments with clean water sources and dense vegetation, fireflies feed on nectar or smaller soft-bodied insects. In Bali, their glowing presence in rice fields and gardens serves as a natural indicator of a healthy, unpolluted ecosystem.

Local Name

Latin Name

English Name

Bali Name

Type

Other Fauna

Spider

Spiders are air-breathing arthropods characterized by eight legs, chelicerae with fangs, and the ability to spin silk webs to capture prey. Unlike insects, they have two body segments (cephalothorax and abdomen) and lack wings or antennae. Mainly feeding on flying insects like flies and mosquitoes, spiders serve as vital natural pest controllers in Balinese tropical gardens, forests, and outdoor spaces.
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Koi

Koi are domesticated ornamental varieties of the Amur carp (Cyprinus rubrofuscus) widely kept in outdoor ponds and water gardens for decorative purposes. Renowned for their striking color variationsโ€”including white, red, black, yellow, and orangeโ€”koi are active, friendly freshwater fish that symbolize good fortune, strength, and perseverance. They can grow quite large, live for several decades with proper care, and thrive in clean, oxygen-rich freshwater environments.
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Squirrel

Tupai (Plantain Squirrel / Treeshrew) is a small, agile mammal commonly found in trees across Southeast Asia. It features a slender body, sharp claws for climbing, a pointed snout, and a bushy tail. Active mainly during the day (diurnal), its diet consists of fruits, seeds, small insects, and nectar. In Bali, it is locally known as Semal and is frequently spotted in coconut groves, tropical gardens, and lush forest areas.
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Butterfly

Butterflies are beautifully winged insects belonging to the order Lepidoptera. They undergo a complete metamorphosis, progressing through four distinct stages: egg, caterpillar (larva), chrysalis (pupa), and adult butterfly (imago). Renowned for their vibrant wing patterns formed by tiny, delicate scales, these insects are diurnalโ€”active mainly during the dayโ€”and play a vital role as natural pollinators for flowering plants.
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Garden Lizard

Lizards are scaled, cold-blooded reptiles characterized by long bodies, four agile legs, and typically a long tail that can detach as a defense mechanism against predators. Active during the day (diurnal), they bask in the sun to regulate their body temperature and feed primarily on insects, spiders, and small invertebrates. Agile and alert, lizards are a common sight darting through tropical gardens, stone walls, and natural landscapes across Bali, playing an important role in controlling local insect populations.
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Centipede

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